Knitting machine attachment



Jan. 25, 1949. F. G. WEISBECKER KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 14,1948

Patented Jan. 25, 1949 UNITED STATE,

KNITTING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Frank George Weisliecker, Glenside, Pa. Application January 14, 1948, Serial No. 2,297-

6 Claims.

the fabric, course by course, The rotation of the take-up reels, which usually are mounted on a common take-up shaft, normally is produced by means of weight and pulley tackle, connected to the shaft. Resilient, work; take-up straps conmeet each take-upl reel to, adraw bar, which latter 1 is attached. to the work; of the corresponding knitting section. Rotation of the take-up shaft windsv the take-up straps on, the reels both to draw the work from the knitting mechanism of the several sections and to. maintain the desired tension on the work. Such take-up mechanism,

including take-up reels, is Well known in the art and shown, for example, in the following United States Latters Patents, to which reference is made for a more detailed explanation of the mechanism. No. 2,014,114 to E; M. Muller, dated September 10, 1935; No. 2,042,834 to W. D. Eaches; dated: June 2, 1936; No. 2,833,074 to. H. Printz, dated October 26, 1943.

Take-up reels commonly in use on knitting machines are provided with a longitudinal slot, having an enlarged portion, for receiving and anchoring a flanged metallic clip which is clamped to one. end of aworle take-up strap, as shown in the heretofore. mentioned Muller patent. Take-up reels which require clip-equipped straps are objectionalcxle for several reasons. The clip not only requires additional material to manufacture the completed strap, but also requires a to the-fabric of the strap. Furthermore, such clips usually have sharp edges which are apt to tear and; thusr'uin finishedworlr.

Another objection to take-up reels now in use is that they commonly are made of wood or metal, Wood has the disadvantage of frequently chipping or splinteringand so f 'orm sharp projections; which may snagand threads, thus spoiling delicate work. The metal most commonly used for take-up reels is brass which seperate pressing operation for its attachment 2 rapidly tarnishes and turns green. Fabric in contact with such reels becomes soiled with the tarnish film, and cannot be cleaned without damage to the fabric.

Accordingly, an object oi this invention is to provide a take-up reel for a straight knitting machine to which or from which a fabric end loop of a work take-up strap readily may be attached or detached, thus, eliminating the need for a special attaching clip on one end of the strap.

Another object of this invention is to. provide a take-up reel which will not damage or soil finished work.

A further object of this inventionis to provide a take-up reel which is, simple and sturdy in construction and which will not deteriorate on contact with the oils and acids which usually are present on and/or around a knitting machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of the take-up mechanism of a straight fullfashioned knitting machine, including a take-up reel embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the take-up reel shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3e-3 of Figure 2 showing a take-up strap partially wound on the reel.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a portion of the take-upmechanism of a conventional full-fashioned knitting machine of the logger type. The mechanism includes resilient work take-up straps it) connected to a welt rod H which latter is attached to the work 12 to draw the knitted fabric from the knitting mechanism (not shown) The take-up straps it are detachably connected to a take-up reel, generally indicated at 53, which is mounted on the usual take-up shaft 14. Although the invention is illustrated by its application to a logger type of knitting machine, it will be understood that the take-up reel of this invention also is adapted to be used on a footer type of knitting machine, in which case a, single strap it usually is employed for connection to a footer bar.

The take-up reel 13 comprises a, tubular main body or shell l5 preferably of a relatively strong material which not only is non-tarnishing and oil and acid resistant, but also is non-chipping and, can be provided with a smooth snag prcof surface. Materals which possess these characteristics may be found among present day plastic compositions, such as thermosetting resins. A particular material which has been found to be very satisfactory in use is a fibrous phenolic condensation composition comprising, for example, a plurality of layers of woven fabric or paper impregnated and bonded together by a phenolic condensation product.

Secured in each end of the shell l5, by any suitable fastening means, such as cement or the like, is a generally spool-shaped member l6 having end flanges separated by an intermediate groove somewhat Wider than the width of the straps H3. The side walls of the groove diverge outwardly for a purpose later described. The members it are bored axially to receive the takeup shaft l4, and are secured thereon by any suitable means, such as a set screw H, the head of which is sunk below the surface of an end flange (as shown) to avoid fabric or work snagging projections. The spool-shaped members [6 are also made of an acid and oil resistant material which can be manufactured with a smooth snag-proof outer surface. Accordingly, these members It may be formed of the same material as the shell l5. Since these members It, however, are not normallyin contact with the work l2, and since strength is needed for securing the reel l3 to the shaft l i, it is desirable to form the members of metal. A preferred metal-is aluminum because of its lightness and tarnish-resisting qualities. It will be noted that the end edges of thesleeve it are rounded, as at l8, to merge smoothly into the inner sidewall IQ of the groove in the members It. This smooth mergence eliminates sharp corners or edges which might damage delicate work. It also is pointed out that the sleeve [5 is longer than the width of the work l2, so that the work contacts only the sleeve, when the former reaches and is wound on the reel l3.

Projecting from one endflange of each member l6 and extending across and above the bottom of the groove therein into proximity to the other end flange is-a pin 20 which is slightly longer than the width of the straps Ill. The spacing between the free end of the pin 20 responding side wall H] of the groove, and between the pin 20 and the bottom of the groove, is suiflcient to permit a fabric loop 2| of a takeup strap I 0 to be slipped over the free end of the pin for detachable engagement therewith. Thus, it will be seen that one end of each strap Ill need only be provided with a loop 2| in order to be attached to the reel i3. Such a loop easily may be formed by doubling back on itself one end of the strap fabric and stitching it into place as shown. The clearance between the free end of the pin 20 and the corresponding side wall I9 is small enough so that the loop 21 normally can be disengaged from the pin only by manual manipulation, thus avoiding the possibility of accidental detachment of a strap in use with consequent damaging results. The outward inclination of the groove side wall l9, which corresponds to the free end of the pin 20, facilitates the attachment and detachment of the loop 2!. 'When the reel is in use, the grooves receive the convolutions of the take-up straps as they arewound thereon.

It will be seen that a simple, yet sturdy take-up reel has been provided by this invention. The reel will not damage delicate hosiery fabric and also results in simplified work take-up straps which not only are easy to attach to the reel, but also are less apt to damage the work. Various and the C01,

r the following claims.

I claim:

1. A work take-up reel for a straight knitting machine comprising; a cylindrical structure having an annular groove intermediate the ends thereof, the width of said groove being somewhat greater than the width of a work take-up strap to be wound therein, and a pin secured to one side wall of said groove and extending transversely thereof into proximity to the other side wall, said pin being spaced from the bottom of said groove, whereby an end loop of the Work take-up strap may be detachably connected to said pin, over the free end thereof.

2. The structure defined by claim 1 in which there is an annular groove adjacent each end of the cylindrical structure.

3. The structure defined byclaim 1 in which the other side wall of said groove is outwardly inclined whereby the connecting of the strap to the pin is facilitated.

4. The structure defined by claim 1 in which the side walls of the groove diverge outwardly.

5. A work take-up reel for a straight knitting machine comprising: an elongated structure adapted to be secured on the take-up shaft of a knitting machine for rotation thereby, said structure having an annular groove adjacent each end thereof, each of said grooves being adapted to receive the convolutions of a work take-up strap secured to the reel, and a pin extending transversely of said each groove intermediate the depth thereof, one end of said pin being secured to one side wall of said groove and the other end of said pin terminating short of the other side wall of said groove, whereby an end loop of the work take-up strap may be detachably connected over said pin between the free end thereof and the corresponding side wall of said groove,

6. A work take-up reel for a straight knitting machine comprising: a tubular member of phenolic condensation composition; a pair of spoolshaped end elements having an end flange of each element secured in one end of said tubular member, said elements being adapted to be secured on a take-up shaft; and a pin secured to one end flange of each of said elements and'extending axially thereof to within proximity of the other end flange, whereby a work take-up strap may be detachably connected to each of said elements to be wound thereon by having an end loop of the strap slipped over the free end of said pin.

FRANK G. WEISBECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of file of this patent:

:UNITED STATES PATENTS record in the 2,333,074 7 Printz Oct. 26, 1943 

